1 Samuel 18
1 When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit on the soul of David; and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 Saul took David into his service that day; he did not let him return to his father's house.
And Saul took him on that day, and would not permit him to go home to his father's house.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant of friendship because Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because of his loving him as his own soul.
4 Jonathan took off the robe that he was wearing and gave it to David with his armor, as well as his sword, bow, and belt.
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he had upon him, and gave it to David, and likewise his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5 David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he succeeded. Saul set him over the men of war. This was pleasing in the eyes of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
And David went out; whithersoever Saul used to send him, he was successful; and Saul set him over the men of war; and he was accepted in the eyes of all the people, and also in the eyes of the servants of Saul.
6 As they came home from defeating the Philistines, the women came from all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.
And it came to pass as they came home, when David returned from smiting the Philistines, that the women came forth out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with triangles.
7 The women sang one to another as they played. They sang: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
And the women that played answered one another, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8 Saul was very angry, and this song displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but they have ascribed only thousands to me. What more can he have but the monarchy?”
And Saul was very wroth, and this saying was displeasing in his eyes; and he said, They have given unto David ten thousands, and to me they have given the thousands: and all that he lacketh now yet is only the kingdom.
9 Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
And Saul looked jealous on David from that day and forward.
10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul and he raved within the house. So David played his instrument, as he did each day. Saul had a spear in his hand.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that an evil spirit from God came suddenly over Saul, and he spoke foolish things in the midst of the house: while David was playing with his hand, as on previous days; and the spear was in the hand of Saul.
11 Saul threw the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from Saul's presence twice in this way.
And Saul cast the spear; and he thought, I will strike David through even on the wall. And David turned aside out of his presence twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, but was no longer with Saul.
And Saul was afraid of David; because the Lord was with him, and from Saul he was departed.
13 So Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him a commander of a thousand. In this way David went out and came in before the people.
Therefore Saul removed him from himself, and made him his captain over a thousand: and he went out and came in before the people.
14 David was prospering in all his ways, for Yahweh was with him.
And David was successful on all his ways; and the Lord was with him.
15 When Saul saw that he prospered, he stood in awe of him.
And when Saul saw that he was very successful, he was in dread of him.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.
But all Israel and Judah loved David; because he went out and came in before them.
17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I will give her to you as a wife. Only be courageous for me and fight Yahweh's battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.”
And Saul said to David, Behold, here is my eldest daughter Merab, her will I give to thee for wife: only be thou unto me a man of valor, and fight the Lord's battles. And Saul thought, Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.
18 David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, or my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”
And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, [or] my father's family in Israel, that I should be a son-in-law to the king?
19 But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.
But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto 'Adriel the Mecholathite for wife.
20 But Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. They told Saul, and this pleased him.
And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told it to Saul, and the thing was right in his eyes.
21 Then Saul thought, “I will give her to him, so that she can be a trap for him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You will be my son-in-law.”
And Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may become unto him a snare, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Through the second shalt thou this day become my son-in-law.
22 Saul commanded his servants, “Speak with David in private, and say, 'See, the king takes pleasure in you, and all his servants love you. Now then, become the king's son-in-law.'”
And Saul commanded his servants, Speak to David secretly, saying, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee; and now thou must become the king's son-in-law.
23 So Saul's servants spoke these words to David. Then David said, “Is it a small matter to you to be the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?”
And the servants of Saul spoke in the ears of David these words. And David said, Doth it seem so light in your eyes to become the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and of light esteem?
24 The servants of Saul reported to him the words which David spoke.
And the servants of Saul told him, saying, Words such as these David hath spoken.
25 Then Saul said, “Say this to David, 'The king does not desire any price for the bride except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged from the king's enemies.'” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged on the king's enemies. But Saul thought to cause David to fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to be the king's son-in-law.
And when his servants told David these words, the thing was pleasing in the eyes of David to become the king's son-in-law: and the days were not complete,
27 Before those days had expired, David went with his men and killed two hundred Philistines. David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, so that he might be the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter as his wife.
When David arose and went, he and his men, and smote of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they counted them out in full to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter for wife.
28 When Saul saw, and he knew that Yahweh was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him,
And Saul saw and understood that the Lord was with David: and Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him.
29 Saul was even more afraid of David. Saul was continually David's enemy.
And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul was David's enemy all the time.
30 Then the princes of the Philistines came out for battle, and as often as they came out, David succeeded more than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly regarded.
And the princes of the Philistines went forth; and it came to pass, whenever they went forth, that David was more successful than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was highly prized.
